School Administrative Unit #9 - The State of Education in School Administrative Unit #9
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School Administrative Unit #9
The State of Education in
School Administrative Unit #9
Photo by: Ishaan Wenger
SAU #9 Mission:
To cultivate the natural
inclination to learn by providing
an exceptional environment in
which students embrace
excellence in learning for a
lifetime of success.
Albany ◆ Bartlett ◆ Conway ◆ Chatham ◆ Eaton ◆ Hart’s Location ◆ Jackson
Annual
Report Card
A Year In Review
Superintendent,
Kevin Richard
Strategic Planning
practices the
new greeting
Pg. 4 Portrait of a Learner
technique with
a Pine Tree Data Reports
Elementary
student during
a school visit
Pg. 5 Attendance & Enrollment Data
Pg. 6 Finance, Discipline & Eagle Academy
Student Growth &
Achievement
Pg. 7 Academic Reports
Aug. 30-Sept. 1 Teacher Workshop Community Involvement
Sept. 2 1st Day of School for Students Pg. 8 Partnerships in the Valley
Sept. 6 Labor Day
Oct. 7
Oct. 7
Early Release for Students
3hr. Evening Teacher Workshop
Personnel
Oct. 8 Teacher Workshop Pg. 9 Professional Development &
Oct. 11 Indigenous People's Day Staff Retirements
Nov. 11 Veterans' Day
Nov. 24-26
Dec. 24-Jan. 2
Thanksgiving Recess
Holiday Break
Technology
Jan. 17 Martin Luther King Jr. Day Pg. 10 Upgrades and Advancements
Feb. 21-25 February Vacation
Mar. 24 Early Release for Students
Mar. 24 3hr. Evening Teacher Workshop Facilities
Mar. 25 Teacher Workshop Pg. 12 Modifications and Improvements
Apr. 25-29 Spring Vacation
May 27
May 30
Early Release for Students
Memorial Day
School Reviews
June 16 * Last Day of School for Students/ Pg. 14 A Look Inside the 2020-2021
Early Release *subject to change School Year
June 17 Teacher Workshop Day
Page 2 | “Realizing the full potential of each and every student” | www.sau9.orgA Year In Review
Superintendent Summary
Thank you for reading the SAU#9 annual report. This report will be distributed as we pass the one year
mark of the pandemic. This document provides data points including assessment results, post-graduation
surveys, demographic information as well as social-economic information. This is historical information that
was reflective of some measures of success for schools.
What can’t be measured with statistics is how successful this 2020-2021 school year has been in terms of
meeting the needs of our students. Approximately 80% of all students returned to face to face instruction
in our schools in September. After hearing from the community in over 30 listening sessions this summer,
school leaders collaborated to develop distance learning options. It has not been easy, but through the dedi-
cation and commitment of all staff members, students and parents, we have been able to navigate through
quarantine, positive cases and vaccines. Schools have always been an integral part of any community, and
this year pulled our community together to ensure our students were back in school safely. We will not
soon forget the way the community celebrated the graduating class of 2020 atop Mt. Cranmore last June.
As you read through this report you will be impressed by the accomplishments of our students and staff.
Increased programming, expansion of Running Start and AP offerings were balanced with the need to
address social emotional learning among our students. Creativity and resourcefulness are just a couple of
words that describe the problem solving that was necessary to deliver education. There are a number of
positive changes that have been implemented that will stay with education long after the pandemic.
Utilization of technology as a resource for student learning has never been more important. We are
fortunate that the upgrades to technology has been an area of focus in the Strategic Plan for the past five
years.
There has always been an appreciation for the outdoors, but the current conditions allowed for educators
to take advantage of our natural resources. Outdoor classrooms were put in to place along with pitched
tents in the fields to support learning environments. We live in such a beautiful part of the world, it only
makes sense to utilize our rivers, mountains and forests. Incorporating our surroundings into the academic
setting has been a key component of instruction.
While managing the pandemic has required great time and energy, SAU#9 has continued to transform
instruction, assessment and environmental practices to best serve the students in this generation. The
newly adopted Strategic Plan (2020-2025) captures the “Portrait of a Learner” that identifies the needs of
our students to be successful.
Please take time to review our annual report. We hope you will learn more about our schools, ask
questions, and continue to collaborate with us as we work to realize the full potential of each and every
student. This is a special community that demonstrates how important education is and we thank you for
that continued support.
Sincerely,
Kevin Richard
Superintendent of Schools
Page 3 | “Realizing the full potential of each and every student” | www.sau9.orgStrategic Plan
Roadmap for the District
The Conway School District approved the 2020-2025 our community, we were able to produce a tangible
Strategic Plan which will serve as a roadmap for our set of competencies we want our learners to possess
work. The five focus areas of the plan include as they navigate through our educational system.
Personnel, Student Growth & Achievement,
Technology, Community Involvement and Facilities. The Portrait of a Learner was adopted by the full
Clear action steps and performance indicators were SAU#9 Board as well as each individual school board
identified for each of the goals for the respective across the SAU in the spring of 2020.
focus areas. We encourage parents, staff and the
community to view the full plan on our website We are now well on our way to identify how the
www.sau9.org. Portrait will affect our educational practices so that
we can ensure our students continue to achieve
One of the key elements to emerge from the these competencies.
2020-2025 strategic planning process was the
development of the SAU#9 Portrait of a Learner.
By pulling feedback from diverse stakeholders across
SAU#9 Portrait
of a Learner
Realizing the full potential
of each and every student
requires the development
of mindsets, character,
communication skills and
processes needed to
effectively apply
knowledge and skills.
Doing so will enable our
learners to become
productive, global citizens
who can successfully
choose their own paths and
navigate the challenges of life.
Page 4 | “Realizing the full potential of each and every student” | www.sau9.orgData Reports
Attendance & Enrollment
SAU #9 is composed of seven school districts: Albany, Bartlett, Chatham, Conway, Eaton, Hart’s Location,
and Jackson. The students attend SAU #9 schools except for Chatham students, who attend school in
Maine’s SAD #72. Source: www.education.nh.gov/ Who We Are> Bureau of Education Statistics> Data Reports> Attendance & Enrollment Reports
SAU #9 Schools Enrollment for 2020-21 School Year Data Collection as of October 1, 2020 Fall Report
Districts School Enrollment (Attendance Areas and Grades) 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21
Conway Conway Elementary School (Conway, Albany) (K-6) 214 223 209
John Fuller Elementary School (Conway) (K-6) 194 180 176
Pine Tree Elementary School (Conway, Eaton) (K-6) 267 263 236
A. Crosby Kennett Middle School (Conway, Albany, Eaton, Madison, Freedom) (7-8) 296 281 241
Bartlett Josiah Bartlett Elementary School (Bartlett, Jackson, Hart’s Location) (PreK-8) 198 209 176
Jackson Jackson Grammar School (Jackson) (K-6) 49 43 50
Total SAU #9 PreK-8 Enrollment 1218 1199 1088
Conway Kennett High School (9-12) 744 713 736
TOTAL SAU #9 ENROLLMENT 1962 1912 1824
Percentage of Students Distance Learning
2019-2020 Attendance Rate By District
School Fall 2020 Spring 2021
District Pre-K Kind. Elem Middle High Total
Jackson Grammar School 18% 21%
Conway — 93.5% 95.4% 92.6% 92.8% 93.7% Josiah Bartlett Elementary School 19% 18%
In Elem. Conway Elementary School 32% 20%
Bartlett 89.2% 89.4% 94.7% — 93.3%
Figure John Fuller Elementary School 26% 20%
Jackson — 88.3% 95.4% — — 94.7% Pine Tree Elementary School 17% 11%
A. Crosby Kennett Middle School 20% 15%
State Total 94.0% 95.4% 96.1% 94.9% 94.0% 95.1%
Kennett High School 14% 15%
Source: SAU #9 Dir. of Special Services.
Percent of Special Education Students by Schools 2020-21 Data Collection as of October 1, 2020
Districts Conway Albany Eaton Bartlett Jackson Hart’s Chatham SAU#13
Schools Location
Conway Elementary 10% 5.3% - - - - - -
John Fuller Elementary 16.5% - 0.6% - - - - -
Pine Tree Elementary 14.4% - 0.8% - - - - -
Kennett Middle School 14.9% 0.8% - - - - - 2%
Josiah Bartlett *Includes Early Childhood Education - - - 21% 1.7% 0.6% - -
Jackson Grammar School - - - - 18% - - -
Kennett High School 6.9% 0.7% - 1.4% 0.7% - - 3.4%
Page 5 | “Realizing the full potential of each and every student” | www.sau9.orgData Reports
Free & Reduced Lunch Cost Per Pupil
Eligibility for free lunch is based on federal income The costs per pupil represent current
guidelines. Source: www.education.nh.gov/ Who We Are> Bureau of expenditures, less tuition and transportation
Education Statistics> Data Reports> Free & Reduced Lunch Eligibility costs. Source: www.education.nh.gov/ Who We Are> Bureau of
Education Statistics> Data Reports> Financial Reports
Percent of Free and Reduced Lunch Students
Cost per Pupil by District
Years 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21
Years 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20
Conway Elementary 59.12% 56.91% 43.78%
Conway K-6 $17,769 $19,214 $21,113
John Fuller Elementary 37.28% 24.38% 29.14%
Jackson K-6 $27,357 $25,219 $30,283
Pine Tree Elementary 38.79% 35.75% 27.96%
Bartlett PreK-8 $24,476 $24,264 $23,556
Josiah Bartlett 27.81% 28.57% 26.35%
State Ave. (Elementary) $15,981 $16,520 $17,188
Jackson Grammar 23.08% 15.00% 6.82% Kennett Middle School $18,430 $17,617 $19,535
Kennett Middle 40.88% 37.37% 39.42% State Ave. (Middle School) $15,021 $15,490 $15,938
State Ave. (Gr. 1-8) 29.71% 27.40% 24.09% Kennett High School $16,777 $17,208 $18,463
Kennett Grades 9-12 28.15% 24.12% 18.48% State Ave. (High School) $16,215 $16,600 $16,776
State Ave. 9-12 22.37% 19.76% 16.89%
Eagle Academy & HiSET
Student Discipline The HiSET exam demonstrates that a test taker has attained
the academic knowledge and proficiency equivalent to those
of a high school graduate. HiSET is offered through a partnership
This chart reflects external suspensions for such between Eagle Academy and Carroll County Academy. Mandatory
things as physical force, fighting, possession of pre-testing and any necessary prep courses are delivered by Carroll
County Academy and when ready, the examination is delivered at
weapons, or insubordination. Source: SAU #9 School Principals Kennett High School by the HiSET Chief Examiner. Test takers are
Number of Instances of External Suspensions tested in five core areas: Language Arts – Reading, Language Arts –
Writing, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies.
Schools 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20* NOTE: COVID-19 has continued to impact overall testing quantity
this year. Testing resumed in September, but fewer test seats were
Conway Elementary 10 10 0 available due to COVID safety procedures. The data below is
disproportionately low compared to “normal” test years as a result.
John Fuller Elementary 0 3 16 Additionally, January was closed to testing due to required training on
the updated HiSET testing procedures.
Pine Tree Elementary 11 6 6
Bartlett (PreK-8) 0 2 0 HiSET Data - 2020-2021SY
Jackson Grammar 0 0 0
People who
Date Number of
Kennett Middle 24 14 3 Tests Taken Passed ALL
Range People Testing
Tests
Kennett High School 64 49 25
Sept. to Feb. 5 14 1
Kennett High School External Suspension
Mar. to Apr. 5 scheduled 9 scheduled N/A
Years 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20*
Number of student days missed for Eagle Academy Graduates
219 161 80
External Suspensions
Years 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21
*All schools were remote during the 2019-2020 school year starting March 17th,
2020 though the end of the school year in June.
Total Graduates 19 17 21 *estimated
Page 6 | “Realizing the full potential of each and every student” | www.sau9.orgStudent Growth
Achievement
Kennett High School Academic Data
& Note: No state-wide assessments were given in
2019-2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Advanced Placement Test Results Exam Score Breakout 2020
Year 2017 2018 2019 2020 SCORE 1 2 3 4 5 Total
Number of Graduates 147 171 179 152 Number of Exams 25 41 56 46 24 192
Kennett AP Exams 174 179 160 192 % of Total Exams 13% 21% 29% 24% 13% 100%
% of AP students w/ scores of 3+ 78.4% 75% 75% 66% Number of AP Students 25 36 49 39 18
Kennett High School Data Student Annual
Year 2017 2018 2019 2020 Dropout Percentage
Extended Learning Opportunities taken for school credit 2 14 20 29 Year 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20
Industry Certificates Earned 250 278 299 327 Kennett Grades 9-12 0.27% 0.80% 0.14%
Running Start Courses offered 68 45 57 91 State Ave. 9-12 1.05% 1.02% 0.92%
Postgraduate Postgraduate Placement for SAU #9 Students 2019-2020
Placement High School Completers—Postgraduate Placement
KHS State
Source: www.education.nh.gov/ Who We Are> Entering a 4 year College or University 50.9% 51.8%
Bureau of Education Statistics> Data Reports>
Dropouts and Completers Entering a school that is less than 4 years 5.4% 16.4%
Returning to Secondary School for Postgraduate Study 0% 0.2%
Employment 40.7% 18.3%
Armed Forces 3% 2.7%
Unemployed 0% 1%
Unaccounted for 0% 9.7%
Post Secondary Education for the Class of 2020
Bentley University Keene State College University of Connecticut
Berklee College of Music, Boston Campus Lakes Region Community College University of Fairfield
Brandeis University Merrimack College University of New England
Bridgewater State Middlebury College University of New Hampshire
Brown University Mount Holyoke College University of New Hampshire—
Bryant University NHTI Manchester Campus
Castleton University Northern Vermont University University of North Carolina Wilmington
Champlain College Oregon State University University of Pittsburgh
Crown College Plymouth State University University of Vermont
Dean College Rutgers University - New Brunswick Wentworth
Endicott College Southern Maine Community College Westminster College
Granite State College Southern New Hampshire University White Mountains Community College
Husson University St. Lawrence University Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Institute of Art at New England College Stanford University
James Madison University Stonehill College
Page 7 | “Realizing the full potential of each and every student” | www.sau9.orgCommunity Involvement
Extended Learning Opportunities
Students in the Mount Washington Valley are resilient and resourceful, and nowhere is that more evident than in the
ELOs they have come up with. This year in particular, has highlighted some of our most creative projects. Senior, Eric
Schandor wrote, mixed and performed four original songs with guidance from Chad of Mountain Top Music Center.
Savannah Brown has been working with Doula, Renee Bernier-Innes, from Sacred Circle Wellness. As part of her ELO,
Savannah has created a blog with a plethora of information about women’s health issues. Jack Vaughan is apprenticing
at Profile Power Sports and the experience has been so successful, it has caught the attention of the NH Automobile
Dealers Association. In fact, NHADA did a promotional film about it, hoping other employers would take Profile’s lead
in offering enriching opportunities for students. Programming student, Krishna Garg is creating a database for The
Way Station so that they can better serve our community. Grace Ruddy created and taught a unit on REVIT software
for her CADD ELO. These are just a few of the many ELOs students are pursuing. The students’ perseverance and the
community’s generosity gives us all a lot to be hopeful about. Below is a listing of the ELO community partnerships for
the 2020-2021 school year:
• Sacred Circle Wellness • Kiwanis Club • Mountain Center Physical Therapy
• Brookside Farm • Cheese Louise • Mount Washington Observatory
• Profile Motor Sports • AutoZone Weather Discover Center
• Constantino Real Estate • Effingham Police Department • Tin Mountain Conservation
• The Thompson House Eatery • MWV Nordic Center
• Rotten Rock Landscape and • New Hampshire Academy of • Vaughn Childcare Center
Construction Science • Mountain Top Music Center
• The Way Station • JSD Architectural Carpentry • Jeanne Limmer Dance Studio
• Madison Fire Department • The Echo Group
• Frechette Tire • Conway Area Humane Society
Project SUCCEED Partnerships
Project SUCCEED (Schools Under Contract Creating Extended Enriching Days) is the Conway School District's
before and after school program. It's currently in its twenty first year of operation and serves the three elementary
schools, plus charter and homeschool students. Its primary goal is to provide safe and stimulating activities during the
high-risk after school hours with special attention to our most at-risk elementary youth. Partnerships with community
members have flourished this year to add new and extended enrichment opportunities. Collaborations have doubled
to include, but are not limited to:
• Conway Public Library
• UNH Cooperative Extension
• Kennett High School Spanish Honor Society
• Tin Mountain Conservation Center
• School’s Out
• White Mountain Science, Inc.
• Jackson Ski Touring Center
• North Conway Community Center
• MWV School to Career
• Children Unlimited, Inc.
• Circus Smirkus
• Jamie Butterworth Art
Page 8 | “Realizing the full potential of each and every student” | www.sau9.orgPersonnel
Staff Development
SAU#9 is committed to providing exceptional professional development of performance assessments and rubrics.
learning opportunities for its staff. The challenges of Educators are collaborating with New Hampshire
providing education during a pandemic has affected how Learning Initiative to strengthen instructional practices in
professional learning looks, but the focus has remained remote environments. We also had a diverse group of
consistent: supporting educators in the development and educators come together to explore the possibilities of
implementation of high quality instruction, assessment, and project-based learning.
learning environments for students.
Professional development goes beyond attending
Built into the school calendar are days dedicated to workshops and conferences. This year we have been
professional learning. In August educators worked to fortunate to be able to support a math coach at our
shape curriculum and instructional units so that they could elementary schools in Conway. Coaching involves meeting
be implemented regardless of whether we were with teachers to collaboratively analyze student work, plan
in a face to face or distance learning environment. lessons, model instruction and reflect on practice.
Elementary educators identified big ideas for grade spans, Educators are using this support to explore new ways
as many were teaching in a multi-age structure for the first of teaching mathematics that meet the individual needs of
time. Staff engaged in additional learning to ensure they students. We are hopeful to be able to expand access
were knowledgeable about how to keep students and to coaching across more schools and into additional
themselves safe given the challenges of COVID-19. The disciplines.
remote instruction days have provided time for
Kennett Middle School teachers to engage with experts
from the Center for Assessment to review performance
assessments, student work, and identify instructional Educational Attainment for Teachers
implications.
District % Bachelor’s % Master’s % Degree Beyond
Educators are also taking advantage of virtual professional
learning opportunities scheduled outside of school hours. Conway 47.2% 47.5% 2.7%
There have been after-school sessions to support the Bartlett 41.7% 49.1% 9.3%
Jackson 22.2% 77.8% 0%
Thank you to our 2020-2021 retiring staff for their years of dedicated service
Name School Position Years of Service
Joy Gould Kennett Middle School Special Education Teacher 28 years *24 teaching
James Kelly Conway School District Maintenance 12 years
Patricia Poulin Conway Elementary School Kindergarten Teacher 20 years
Pamela Robinson Conway School District School Psychologist 27 years
Theresa Stanton Conway School District Occupational Therapist 30 years
Donna Towle Conway Elementary School Special Education Teacher 18.5 years
Laurie Turley Conway Elementary School Music Teacher 25 years
Gail Yalenezian SAU#9 Pre-School Coordinator 17 years
Page 9 | “Realizing the full potential of each and every student” | www.sau9.orgTechnology
Josiah Bartlett Elementary School Wiring Upgrade Project—
A Total Transformation
Through a combination of CARES Act and other grants, Bartlett received enough funding to completely overhaul the
Bartlett network and acquire new Chromebooks. Conway School District technology specialists replaced CAT5 with
CAT6a making Bartlett the first school in SAU#9 to use this technology while adding ethernet drops and commercial
grade access points in each classroom. Thank you to all who helped with this upgrade project!
Page 10 | “Realizing the full potential of each and every student” | www.sau9.orgTechnology
Technology Updates—Conway School District
Under the restrictions of COVID-19, the IT staff has continued to work tirelessly this year to provide technical support
and implement system process improvements to facilitate the hybrid classroom environment for students, faculty, and
staff. Some of the projects include:
• New Firewall/Filter devices at KHS and the district • Purchased a long-range Aruba wireless bridge and
office to enhance network security to guard against external access point to provide broadband WiFi to
external threats and provide secure remote-access KHS’s front athletic fields to support live-streaming of
athletic events
• Doubled the internet bandwidth at ALL schools,
including increasing to 1Gbps at both KMS and KHS, • Installed MoCa pair to extend the schools computer
to help support hybrid classrooms network into the football stadium press box to
support live streaming of events and to provide data
• Replaced 712 obsolete Chromebook Computers and phone service to the near-by maintenance building
district-wide to meet state online assessment via wireless-bridge
functional requirements
• Migrated the high school's website hosting to Intrado
• Installed an interactive presentation panel in the to be consistent with the rest of the district schools
Professional Development Center for technology-
enhanced instruction and remote meetings
Jackson School District Bartlett School District
Jackson Grammar School adapted to the COVID-19 The COVID-19 pandemic has made reliable technology
pandemic in many ways to make both remote and face-to- necessary for schools, staff, and students. Bartlett has
face learning interactive and engaging. Two of the four undergone a large technological overhaul. “It takes a
classes now have a wireless projector allowing the teacher village” is the motto for this academic year. Many people
the ability to project their lesson from any device while across the SAU have lent a hand to make the technology
using other devices simultaneously. The united arts at Bartlett successful. (See page 11 for details.)
teachers taught remotely this year with real-time lessons
_
_
via Google Meet and a web camera. The webcam allowed The teachers at Bartlett school have adapted well to
the UA teacher to interact with the students as a whole tandem remote learning. Preschool through first grade
instead of on their student device. The remote students teachers and staff have created an interactive classroom
were also in the “classroom” with their peers through this for their students through Seesaw and Google Meet
method. Each week Jackson Grammar held their all school applications. The second grade has been able to connect
meeting via Google Meeting to connect with all of the with the remote students in the classroom using a web
students school-wide. camera so both face-to-face and remote students are able
_
to interact. The third grade teacher set-up a donors
Another upgrade is the increase of access points choose project and received many generous donations
throughout the school and the Whitney Community from Bartlett families and Grant’s Shop and Save. Fourth
Center. The school uses the pavilion daily as an outdoor through eight grade teachers teach synchronous lessons
classroom and students are able to successfully connect with their remote and face-to-face students using creative
wirelessly because of the increased access points. and interactive ways so remote learners are brought into
Additionally, Jackson has moved their students from a the classroom virtually.
Window’s based laptop to Chromebooks. Thanks to the _
CARES Act and REAP grants, 31 new touch screen The help from many to receive and install the new
Chromebooks were purchased. The Chromebooks upgrades and equipment as well as the ability to adapt to
allow for easier management and streamlined Google the COVID-19 restrictions are examples of how a
classrooms for the teachers and students. community came together for a successful school year.
Page 11 | “Realizing the full potential of each and every student” | www.sau9.orgFacilities
Despite the ongoing pandemic, and in some cases, as a result
Update Snapshots
of the pandemic, building maintenance has flourished over
the past year. Highlights include:
Bartlett: Replaced thousands of square feet of flooring and installed
new vinyl tile. The staff also went through over 100 gallons of paint
painting the inside of the building while students were out.
Jackson: Replaced a significant amount of floor tile with lower
maintenance material.
Conway: John Fuller was on the list to receive the Rotating Fund this
year, and so far they’ve installed fencing around the entire perimeter
of the school. Replaced the 30+ year old stage curtains, and installed
new blinds on all of the windows in the gym to reduce glare and allow for “darkened” events and
presentations.
On the John Fuller site, the District has entered into an agreement with the Town of Conway to use the
three bay garage that had fallen into significant disrepair due to lack of use. The Town has painted the
building, installed new overhead doors, new electrical services, as well as insulated and heated the building
for equipment storage needed for the North Conway area.
Page 12 | “Realizing the full potential of each and every student” | www.sau9.orgFacilities Update Snapshots
Continued…
At the Middle School we replaced the 40+ year old gym divider with a new state of the art unit. Also on site,
our maintenance staff constructed a new pump house for the irrigation pumping system and is also used as
winter storage of the
irrigation guns.
With the pandemic, the maintenance staff spent countless hours manufacturing dozens of sneeze guards
for the various buildings, installing hand sanitizer stations, and were instrumental in the acquisition and
distribution of sanitizing and disinfecting materials throughout the district.
Page 13 | “Realizing the full potential of each and every student” | www.sau9.orgSchool Reviews
Conway Elementary School avenues. Students are more readily able to switch learning
venues and styles with the new opportunities and they are
Resiliency, Flexibility, and Tradition thinking more out of the box to problem solve, showing
more grit in working on new technology skills.
"Today, resilience has a much broader meaning. For researchers
and professionals working with kids, it’s not just about ‘bouncing Our CLiF Committee members Meg Murphy, Patty Poulin,
back.’ It’s about ‘bouncing forward.’ Resilience doesn’t just mean Elizia Braunstein, Maika Phillips, Michelle Dupuis, Kim
getting back to normal after facing a difficult situation. It means Mathison and Stevi Laird have successfully planned our Read
learning from the process in order to become stronger and better Across the World month-long event in March to include
at tackling the next challenge.” Donna Volpitta, a mental health events to kick off the month, theme days, the incorporation
educator. of Drop Everything and Read, book giveaways, and author
visits. They have worked tirelessly planning and preparing for
Each day as professionals we learn, evolve and model this each book distribution, lining up author presentations, and
definition of resilience for our students and colleagues to scheduling events around Year of the Book.
see. We continue to 'bounce forward' to better our craft
and better the experience we offer our students. As a result, The definition of normalcy: the state of being usual, typical,
our students also continue to bounce in a positive direction. or expected. This year has been anything but normal. Right
Every time you challenge them they come out strong and out of the gate staff at Conway Elementary was determined
more prepared for what happens next. We continue to to make this year as normal as possible. Our annual events
push the limits and pave the way for those meaningful like our Halloween Parade, Food Drive, and Cougar
experiences. Strength Awards Assemblies, were all held, but virtually and
with a different spin to keep everyone safe. We were also
There are positives that have come out of this pandemic able to carry on the tradition of our Holiday Store where
within our school community. There are deeper peer students can come and choose presents for family members
relationships in the small cohorts, lower student ratio has and friends and staff wrap the gifts for them….all done with
allowed teachers to get to know their students on all levels, adherence to the COVID guidelines. Learning outdoors was
academic, emotional, and increased student support. Our embraced by everyone! As we enter the spring our staff is
SEL skills are more honed due to increased time with peers continuing to plan outdoor learning opportunities and are
and the prioritization fully invested in making our normal events happen to create
of student and staff the CES experience for our students. #CougarPride
well-being. There is
increased technology
familiarity, and the
ability to collaborate
using different media
Page 14 | “Realizing the full potential of each and every student” | www.sau9.orgSchool Reviews
Jackson Grammar School Students learned and improved their skills on Nordic skis in
an extended unit in Mrs. Porter’s Physical Education class.
Thank you, Jackson Ski Touring staff and community
What’s best for students’ academic, social, and volunteers, for the socially-distanced assistance!
emotional learning?
Translated to “What’s best for students?” this question is a
constant consideration among JGS staff. Their answers
inevitably include teaching the skills of Social Emotional
Learning and giving students the opportunity to practice the
skills in a classroom setting. JGS staff have been working with
Brian Hastings and Cassie Yackley on this year’s staff
professional development goal to expand their understanding
of SEL principles and implement them across the curriculum
and school activities.
JGS staff is committed to students spending as much time
outside as possible, teaching through many hands-on projects
and keeping traditions and routines in place while modeling
flexibility and adaptability. In that vein, a key word this year The Nordic unit in PE culminated in another JGS tradition:
has been “pivot.” Students and staff have been ready for the annual Ski-a-thon. Three sessions, five cohorts, three
outdoor or indoor lunch depending on the temperature: courses, and four snack stops gave JGS skiers enough space
gearing up, switching kitchens, limiting indoor mask-off to log over 400 KM! Pledge money will go to the JGS PTO
chatter. We switched to a week of remote learning and to JSTF to support children’s ski programs.
seamlessly, tech-ready and logged-on, and students and staff
maneuvered two days at school without electricity:
screen-free and pencils in hand. The students have
demonstrated time and again that they are capable of and
willing to learn in a variety of settings.
While the older grades got in a few Friday afternoons skiing
with ESSC volunteers at Black Mountain Ski Area,
Kindergartners ruled the school - and playground! Thank you
to all ESSC volunteers for helping us get out on the snow
this year and for the crew at Black Mountain Ski Area.
In late winter, grades 3-6th are studying the math, history,
and science of maple sugaring. Grade 2 is wrapping up
projects on Asia, and K-1 just celebrated the 100th day of
school. We’re still here, ready to pivot in response to whatever
ABOVE JGS kids ate outside more often than inside in comes next, anticipating lunch without snowsuits, looking
January and February. forward to spring traditions knowing they’ll be a little different,
and enjoying sweet maple syrup snacks with our cohorts.
Page 15 | “Realizing the full potential of each and every student” | www.sau9.orgSchool Reviews
Josiah Bartlett Elementary School
Learning during the Pandemic
A year ago the pandemic brought massive challenges to our lives,
and to how JBES operates. The teachers and other staff of Bartlett
have been heroic in rising to the challenges. They learned to ‘teach
remote’ last Spring and then began teaching both face-to-face and
distance learners of Bartlett this year. Students learned new ways
to access instruction through technology and new ways to interact
safely. Through these challenges, JBES educators maintained their
commitment to provide learning that supports each child’s
individual development. There is more focus now on
social-emotional learning than in the past and there are
adjustments to how we use technology, but we have not lost our
focus on the competencies and teaching students the habits that
will help them be successful in life. As we move through the
pandemic and come to our new normal, JBES will continue to
provide positive and enduring learning that helps each child reach
their potential.
Winter Fun Days!
JBES was not able to ski this year because of COVID, but we
managed to still enjoy outdoor time. On Thursdays from January
to Mid-March, students participated in Winter Fun Days. Activities
included cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, sledding, snow
sculptures, snowman building and outdoor science crafts. Everyone
had a great time getting some fresh air and having fun!
3rd Grade Maple Syrup
JBES 3rd graders have been
busy this spring going through
the maple sugaring process.
The students had to identify
sugar maple trees, tap the
trees, collect the sap and will
learn about the boiling
process with a backyard boil.
We tapped 20 trees and our
first collection produced
about 25 gallons of sap.
Page 16 | “Realizing the full potential of each and every student” | www.sau9.orgSchool Reviews
Pine Tree Elementary School have proven that they can rise above any challenge, and their
determination is palpable. Whether it be small cohorts of
This year has been one of balance, flexibility, and innovation. students, outdoor learning, remote instruction, mask
One thing that has been affirmed is that even in the most wearing, or eating lunch in classrooms, they have taken
challenging of circumstances, a strong school community everything in stride. We also commend their families for
provides the foundation for growth, continuous improvement, being flexible when adjusting from one learning model to
and support necessary to meet the needs of the members another, sometimes at the drop of a hat, with positivity,
within it. The way in which our families, community support, and appreciation for our schools. Likewise, our
members, students and staff have rallied around one another educators have had to respond to so many shifting scenarios,
has been tremendous and has pulled us through some of the and have exhibited unprecedented flexibility and responsiveness.
most difficult times over the past year. We have been
reminded that schools are sacred places where students, This past school year has taught us many valuable lessons,
staff, and families can find solace, even when the chaos that one of which is the importance of innovation. We have had
surrounds us feels unbearable. As a result of all that we have to challenge ourselves to think of new ways of teaching,
learned, we have come out on the other side stronger and which has led to immense growth in students and educators
even more determined to do whatever it takes to be the alike. Teachers have found innovative ways to foster
best we can be for the students in our community. Although collaboration among their students while also staying socially
we were forced to create very unique learning conditions, distant. Despite the fact that we are not gathering together
the strong foundation and philosophy that anchors all that physically, class and school-wide celebrations have still
we do has allowed for a successful school year in the midst occurred in innovative ways. Room transformations have
of the COVID pandemic. allowed students to identify learning spaces that meet their
needs while keeping them spaced through the use of yoga
We set out to make it our goal to continue to support the mats, camp chairs, or self-created drive-in movie theatre
social emotional needs of our students while balancing cars!
academic expectations, especially following a long period of
remote instruction last spring. We have been successful in
creating a safe and secure environment while balancing the
need for fun! As a result, our students have journeyed
through this school year feeling safe, nurtured, and an
integral part of their learning community.
Our staff began this school year with an intense commitment
to providing a high-quality education for all learners and have
done so successfully.
Teachers have found innovative ways to provide real-world
learning experiences through the use of virtual field trips
and engaging the community in virtual meetings both during
the school day and through our Project SUCCEED After
School enrichment program. The level of creativity and
open-mindedness exhibited by our educators is something
The flexibility required of all we will take with us moving beyond this unique school year
members of our school community and into the future of education at Pine Tree School.
has been tremendous. Our students
Page 17 | “Realizing the full potential of each and every student” | www.sau9.orgSchool Reviews
John Fuller Elementary School
Community and outdoor learning remain at the heart
of all we do at JFS! To kick off Read Across America
Week we had our always successful Community
Reading Day on Monday, March 1st. We welcomed
12 community readers to our school virtually. These
gracious community members shared lots of great
titles and also shared how they use reading in their
professions and daily lives. The students and staff
look forward to this event every year.
JFS students enjoyed 6 weeks of winter fun
activities. JFS staff and students worked in
partnership with Memorial Hospital’s 5-2-1-0
Let’s Go and Winter Kids/Winter Games to get
creative with additional outdoor activities for
January and February. Snowball target practice,
snowshoeing, snow art, snow creations,
fort-building, and more.
As spring is now upon us our cohorts are
looking forward to even more time outside
learning and exploring. From reading and
writing to art and P.E. to science and social
studies the school property and our surrounding
area offers ample opportunities to maximize our
time outside!
Page 18 | “Realizing the full potential of each and every student” | www.sau9.orgSchool Reviews
Kennett Middle School Winter Sports
Our co-curricular
Since this fall our school and community has worked programs have been
through a number of transitions. This includes two shifts another way to
to remote for the whole school and a number of smaller, develop a larger
cohort quarantines. While each scenario presented sense of the school
challenges for those involved, the students and staff handled this year and we
each one in stride with a minimum of disruption to the were fortunate to be
planned learning in classes. This resilience has allowed us to able to participate
not only maintain the choice of face-to-face or distance this winter.
learning but has resulted in new learning opportunities for
students and staff alike as we embraced new ways of
teaching and learning at KMS.
This winter we were able to continue with increased
outdoor learning opportunities and movement. Using
snowshoes, classes were able to continue movement breaks
along the same paths and fields they used in the fall. Science
classes ventured out to learn about our local ecosystems in
winter.
Focus on Assessment
Professional development this year has been focused on
building the capacity of staff around high quality performance
assessments. Each content area PLC has used protocols for
looking at student performance on assessments to evaluate
their complexity and alignment to competencies. The results
are also used to inform changes in instructional practices.
Developing a feeling of belonging to the whole school has Shift to Literacy
been a challenge for us this year as students generally see This past year our school has shifted the way we approach
only their small cohort of other literacy instruction by using a more integrated model.
kids. Even at the team level, that Where previously Reading and Language Arts were
sense of the group has been taught as separate courses these are now combined
challenged. Fortunately, Barry into a Literacy class for all 7th and 8th grade students.
the Eagle has had some free The Literacy curriculum is aligned with the SAU#9 K-12
time this year and has been able Literacy competencies and utilizes the Lucy Calkins
to help out by visiting around Readers and Writers Workshop resources to provide
the school, spreading school personalized instruction and opportunities for student
spirit! choice at appropriate challenge levels for each student.
Page 19 | “Realizing the full potential of each and every student” | www.sau9.orgSchool Reviews
MWV Career & Technical Center
Options and Opportunities: The Mount Washington In Culinary, the installation
Valley Career & Technical Center (MWVCTC) at Kennett of an organic indoor farming
High School believes in offering as many options and system for year-round
opportunities to our students to help work toward a career growing of fresh and nutri-
or occupation in learning contexts that respond to their ent dense greens and herbs
learning needs, providing linkages to the workplace and has increased students’
other post-secondary destinations. Through a range of understanding of raw food
authentic learning experiences, and an integrated career production. We are
education approach, students enrolled in any one of our growing all our own salad
twelve programs are able to make connections with career greens including Encore
pathways and make more informed decisions about what Mix, Deers Tongue, Crispino, Red Leaf, Russian Kale as
they want to do after high school. students partner together to plant, tend and harvest our
garden.
Critical to these beliefs are the six pillars of Career and
Technical Education (CTE) at MWVCTC: Authentic Partnering with Eagle Academy once again, we offered an
assessment; Cleary defined career pathways; Concurrent Introduction to Criminal Justice class this past fall. The class
& Dual Enrollments to earn college credits in high school; was very successful and positively received by students.
Industry Recognized Credentials (IRCs); Twenty-first As such, it is our intention to offer one Introduction to
century learning skills and capabilities; and, Work-based Criminal Justice class for the school year 2021-22.
learning.
Career & Technical
What’s new at MWVCTC? STEM Aviation & Aerospace Student Organizations
partnerships with Eastern Slope Aviation Academy (ESSA), competition season
the FAA and Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association (AOPA) got under way in
continue to enhance opportunities and options for students February with the
interested in a myriad of career paths in the aviation DECA Marketing Club
industry. Recently, our program received designation by the participating in its
Department of Education as an official Career & Technical first-ever virtual
Education program, the first of its kind, in the United States. competition with
Additionally, what is now being touted as the “first food dozens of high schools from around NH. DECA’s role-plays
delivery by drone in NH,” students planned and executed a and case studies challenge competitors to demonstrate
complicated mission to deliver lunch from Big Dave’s to the industry-relevant knowledge and skills through performance
back doors of the indicators while also developing important 21st Century
Career & Technical Skills – creativity, collaboration, critical thinking and
Center. communications. Students won top spots in Retail
Merchandising, Hotel & Lodging Series, Personal Finance
Literacy and the Quiz Bowl making them eligible for the
national competition in April.
Educators Rising also competed in February in their first-
ever virtual competition. Students submitted projects digi-
tally for the 2021 Educators Rising State Competition in the
Interactive Bulletin Board Contest and the Children’s Literature
K-3 Contest. Our students took top spots in the competition
making them eligible for the national competition in June.
Page 20 | “Realizing the full potential of each and every student” | www.sau9.orgSchool Reviews
Kennett High School Student Council, Honor Society, French Honor Society,
GTSA, and so many more groups have found ways to meet
The 2021 school year has been one like no other at Kennett either virtually or socially distanced to keep students
High School. It has been a year connected to these organizations.
where we have embraced change
and battled adversity in As we head into spring we are
classrooms, in the hallways, looking forward to planning
with extracurriculars and another great experience for our
co-curriculars and just about seniors to celebrate commencement.
every other aspect of our school. Plans are underway and we are
Yet, in spite of these challenges excited to once again offer a
and obstacles, we have found a graduation re-imagined so that
way to overcome, to educate our our students, families, and
students face-to-face, to offer community can celebrate the
athletics and our extracurriculars great achievement of our
and co-curriculars. Things have students. We are excited about
looked different, but we have this great opportunity to celebrate
worked together and we have our students and we look forward
grown together. to getting back to the best of the
way things were, and bring
Academically at Kennett High forward with us the best of what
School we have made adjustments we have learned this pandemic to
to our schedule so that all realize a bright future for KHS.
students have 4 classes per
semester, and all teachers teach 4 classes per day with a
common planning time at the end of the day. This subtle
change enabled us to reduce class sizes so that we were
able to meet the recommendations for class sizes and
square footage to keep our students safe and healthy, but
also allowed staff to make strong connections with their
students in these classes. Classes have been taking advantage
more than ever of the great campus at KHS, and classes are
frequently utilizing outside space as an expansion of the
classroom.
Pictured Left: A biology project
where students transfer DNA,
Athletically this year we have had great success, especially specifically a bioluminescence gene,
given that we did not have any sports last spring. Through
which causes the bacteria to glow.
careful planning and implementation, we were able to
develop a return to play model for our fall athletics, a model
for our winter athletics, now are working on planning for
our spring programs. Some of the key highlights so far
include state championships in girls field hockey, girls
alpine skiing, and ski jumping. Additionally, KHS finished
as runners-up in girls basketball, losing in a nail biter, girls
nordic skiing, and boys alpine skiing. Our clubs and other
co-curricular organizations have also found ways to
successfully meet. We have had virtual concerts and
productions from our arts department, and Key Club,
Page 21 | “Realizing the full potential of each and every student” | www.sau9.org School & Event Calendars
School Board Information & Policies
Family & Community Info
Staff Information &
Professional Development
Student Registration
District Contacts
School Cancellation Information
COVID-19 Resources
SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS
SAU9 BOARD CHATHAM SCHOOL BOARD EATON SCHOOL BOARD
Nancy Kelemen, Chair Susan Perry, Chair Christopher Kennedy, Chair
Dr. Michelle Capozzoli, Vice-Chair Beverly Aiman, Vice-Chair Monique Hebert, Vice-Chair
Susan Crowley Susan Wiley
ALBANY SCHOOL BOARD
Timothy Sorgi, Chair CONWAY SCHOOL BOARD HART’S LOCATION SCHOOL BOARD
Daniel Bianchino Joe Lentini, Chair Helen Brandon, Chair
VACANT Dr. Michelle Capozzoli, Vice-Chair Nancy Ritger, Vice-Chair
Bill Aughton William Hoover
BARTLETT SCHOOL BOARD Courtney Burke
Nancy Kelemen, Chair Randy Davison JACKSON SCHOOL BOARD
Andrew Light, Vice-Chair Joe Mosca Genn Anzaldi, Chair
Emily Calderwood Jessica Whitelaw Jerry Dougherty, Vice-Chair
Rob Clark Majka Burhardt
Scott Grant Darlene Ference
Kate Fornier
SCHOOL CONTACTS
SCHOOL ADMINISTRATIVE UNIT #9 JACKSON SCHOOL DISTRICT A. Crosby Kennett Middle School
176A Main Street | Conway, NH 03818 Jackson Grammar School Principal: Rick Biché
SAU #9 Website: www.sau9.org Principal: Gayle Dembowski Main Office: 447-6364
Main Office: 383-6861
Superintendent of Schools: Kevin Richard Conway Elementary School
Assist. Superintendent: Kadie Wilson CONWAY SCHOOL DISTRICT Principal: Jason Robert
Director of Special of Services: Pam Stimpson Kennett High School Main Office: 447-3369
Principal: Kevin Carpenter 356-4343
Main Office: 603-447-8368 John Fuller Elementary School
Vice Principal: Katy Meserve 356-4340
Special Services: 603-447-8951 Principal: Danielle Nutting
Main Office: 356-4343
Transportation: 603-447-3626 Main Office: 356-5381
Career & Tech Center: 356-4370
Fax Number: 603-447-8497 Director: Virginia Schrader Pine Tree Elementary School
School Counseling: 356-4325 Principal: Dr. Aimee Frechette
BARTLETT SCHOOL DISTRICT Athletic Department: 356-4335 Main Office: 447-2882
Josiah Bartlett Elementary School Special Education: 356-4315
Principal: Joe Yahna
Main Office: 374-2331
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